Forget about Santa Ana just being a dot on the map – Santa Ana is full of people making things happen! You gotta hear Gerardo Navarro's story – he owns Gerardo Navarro Insurance Agency, but trust me, there's more to him than that. This guy's got the community's back, tears up the dance floor, and has the inside scoop on all the best eats in town (seriously, we call him our "Santa Ana Taste Bud").
From Humble Beginnings to
the Entrepreneurial Dream
 | Gerardo's story kicks off with humble beginnings. He arrived in Santa Ana from Mexico at just 15 years old, facing the massive challenge of a new culture without speaking a lick of English. "I didn't speak any English at all. Couldn't even say yes," Gerardo recalls about his early struggles. In fact, not many people know this, but for a couple of years in high school, he barely had any friends because of that language barrier. But Gerardo didn't let his struggles discourage him. He pushed forward, determined to adapt to his new environment. Supported by his family and guided by values such as love, respect, honor, forgiveness, and generosity towards others, he forged ahead. |
 | Gerardo grew through various jobs, especially in the hospitality industry, where he strengthen his moral values with hard work, dedication and perseverance. During his time at Santa Ana College and working at retail stores, he discovered his true talent for sales. "Oh wow, this is a power of mine," he realized Entrepreneurship was always Gerardo's driving dream. "Having my own thing was the goal," he shares. That vision to build something completely his own, combined with an unstoppable passion for success, led him to open his thriving insurance agency right in the middle of the pandemic. "Coming from humble beginnings, owning something that screams 'this is me' means everything. It's more than just a business," Gerardo says. |
Giving Back to Santa Ana Youth
But Gerardo's impact goes way beyond his booming business. He's invested huge in uplifting Santa Ana's youth through his scholarship program at Saddleback High School, inspired by his own educational journey and named after his late mom.
His driving goal? To inspire and motivate the next generation every step of the way.
"If I could overcome not speaking the language, the cultural barriers, all those struggles, then the students born and raised here can do even more amazing things," Gerardo shares.
And he's not stopping there - Gerardo is working on expanding that scholarship opportunity to Santa Ana College too. His actions show just how deeply he believes in giving back and creating more opportunities for local students to succeed.
From Personal Growth to
Community Upliftment
Gerardo's journey is all about personal growth rooted in family values and community. He credits his mom's unwavering influence as the force that shaped his generosity and drive for success.
"She really believed education was everything. She didn't have that opportunity growing up, but she knew it could take you wherever you wanted to go," Gerardo reminisces about his mom's impact. "My mom truly is my hero. She always went above and beyond.”
Losing his mom was life-changing for Gerardo, leading him to find healing through the rhythm and movement of dance. "I had to do things that broke me out of my daily routine. That's how I got into dancing," he reflects on that pivotal time.
He is now a big believer that the next level in one’s life is just there, beyond conquering that next fear.
Today, Gerardo is a passionate dancer who is learning all the moves - salsa, bachata, cumbia, merengue, you name it. Hitting the dance floor and connecting with people through dance brings him pure joy and allows him to fuel his engine after a long workday.
The Santa Ana Foodie We All Need
But don't think dance is Gerardo's only passion! He's also our go-to Santa Ana foodie, earning him the nickname "Our Santa Ana Taste Bud." His talent for sniffing out the city's best local eats takes him on delicious adventures through hidden gems and classic spots alike.
The best part? Gerardo's not keeping those tasty finds to himself. Through our OSA newsletter, he dishes out all his top restaurant recommendations so we can all indulge in the most mouth-watering flavors Santa Ana has to offer.
As Gerardo Navarro continues blazing his own inspirational trail, he reminds us all to dream big, hustle hard, and never forget "your real you and that real success is to be a go giver," he adds.
No matter where you start, you can overcome anything, become that best version of you and make a positive impact on the people around you.
Want to dive deeper into Gerardo's amazing insurance agency? Check out https://gerardonavarroinsuranceagency.com/ and see how he's changing lives, one policy at a time.
Know an unsung community hero, a thriving local entrepreneur, or anyone making Santa Ana even better? Reach out and let us know! Their story could be the next one to motivate and inspire us all.
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